Ex-firefighter dedicated his life to Lake Zurich

A dedicated firefighter and devoted public servant.

That's how friends and family remember Norman W. Schuldt, 79, of Lake Zurich, who died Feb. 14 at his home.

Mr. Schuldt, an Army veteran of the Korean War and purple heart recipient, was a former Lake Zurich volunteer firefighter who served as fire chief for seven years.

"Norman was one of the best fire chiefs we had as far as volunteers," said Kenneth Buesching, secretary of the Lake Zurich Retired Firefighters Association and unofficial historian for the volunteer fire department. "He was very dedicated. He gave a lot of his vacation time to attend various fire schools."

Mr. Schuldt joined the volunteer firefighters in 1950. He took over as chief soon after his father, William Schuldt, resigned from the post in 1957.

The volunteer force, which was organized in 1933, had 30 men at the time.

"Back then, we went strictly by the fire whistle," Buesching said. "When the whistle blew we knew we had a fire."

Fire calls went directly to the telephone at the chief's home and three other locations, including the old fire station off Rand Road.

Mr. Schuldt and his wife, Marilyn, were devoted to answering the calls.

"They missed a lot of parties and family doings because nobody else was going to be home to listen to the fire whistle," Buesching said.

Mr. Schuldt later served as a Lake Zurich village trustee. He owned Norm Schuldt & Son Excavating and Trucking, the oldest existing business in town, according to the family.

"He was very prominent in Lake Zurich," Marilyn Schuldt said. "He did so much."

Mr. Schuldt was a member of the Antique Caterpillar Club and Antique Truck Club, and a 37-year member of the Lake Zurich American Legion Post No. 964.

Legion members honored Mr. Schuldt in a ceremony Tuesday after visitation was held at Ahlgrim Family Funeral Home in Lake Zurich.

They placed poppies in Mr. Schuldt's casket to recognize his service and presented his family with an American Legion grave marker medal insignia, a Bible and flag.

Today, the Lake Zurich American Legion will host a celebration of Mr. Schuldt's life for family and friends at legion hall after a 11 a.m. memorial service at Ahlgrim Family Funeral Home, 415 S. Buesching Road. The Lake Zurich Fire Department will present an honor guard at the memorial service.

Besides his wife, Mr. Schuldt is survived by his children Kathryn Von Seggern, Susan Clark, Norma Nelson and Bill Schuldt.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Lake Zurich Retired Firefighter Association, 83 W. Main St., S-105, Lake Zurich, IL 60047.